By Caleb Kuleke
Ho, Aug. 12, GNA – Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Volta Region are preparing to take to the streets in protest, citing the government’s persistent failure to enforce the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715).
They said despite the law being passed two decades ago to guarantee equal rights, accessibility, and employment opportunities, successive administrations had shown zero political will to implement it.
They lamented that crucial Legislative Instruments needed to penalise non-compliance have also not been fully operationalised.
The law granted a 10-year transition window, which expired in 2016, for all existing public buildings and service providers to retrofit their facilities to be disability-friendly.
Section 6 of the Act mandates that owners or occupiers of public spaces must provide appropriate facilities such as ramps, elevators, and lifts to make these locations fully accessible to PWDs.
The Ministry of Transport and local assemblies were also legally required to integrate the needs of PWDs into the design, construction, and operation of public transportation networks.
Madam Mispa Enyonam Henu, the Senior Project Officer at the Africa Disability Institute told Ghana News Agency, that failure of successive governments to ensure full implementation of the law was worrying.
She said most public buildings, transport systems, and educational facilities remained completely inaccessible to wheelchair users and the visually impaired.
Madam Elikplim Afua Klu, the Volta Regional President of Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, told GNA that the protest had become necessary to demand full enforcement of the law.
She said the mandated employment quotas for persons with disabilities in both public and private sectors continued to be ignored.
Madam Klu stated that they were currently mobilising members and would announce the protest date once this phase was complete.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo